Toothpicks Pose a Threat to Your Smile. Here’s Why

Toothpicks are handed out at most sit-down restaurants and they’re great for presenting hors d’oeuvres. They’re also simply available at your local grocery store or pharmacy. Unfortunately, they are terrible when used for regular teeth cleaning and can damage your gums and enamel. While they might be okay to carefully use occasionally, here’s why dentists do not recommend using them for regular hygiene.

What Damage Could a Toothpick Do to My Gums?

A dentist is likely to notice some gum damage in a frequent toothpick user. A toothpick can break apart in your mouth as you use it just by poking into the tissue. The resulting splinters can wedge themselves in the gums, creating an opening for infection-causing bacteria.

How Can a Toothpick Damage My Teeth?

Wood is a hard and stubborn material, and chewing on it can damage your teeth. If you are poking and prodding the spaces between your teeth with a miniature wooden spear, it can widen the gap by pressing the teeth aside or wearing away the enamel. These gaps can trap food particles, which can breed bacteria and cause cavities. Excessive toothpick use can also cause your gumline to recede, exposing more of the tooth’s root to infection and erosion.

What Is a Good Alternative to Toothpicks?

The best way to remove food and plaque stuck between your teeth is with dental floss. Flossing correctly barely takes two minutes, which is a shorter time than you would spend going over all your teeth with a toothpick. Here are a few great ways to start developing a flossing habit:

• Keep floss available: Thankfully, floss is cheap and available for purchase everywhere, so you have no excuse not to have it on hand. Keep floss in your bathroom, next to your TV remote, in your desk drawer, your purse, your backpack, your car, and anywhere else you tend to be for much of the day.
• Set an alarm: You can use your smartphone to set a cue for yourself to begin flossing. There are even apps specifically designed to help you with dental hygiene.
• Habit-chunking: Find a good habit you already carry out once a day and resolve to floss every time prior. By associating a habit, you are trying to build with one you already have, you can build the new one without much effort.

Carefully using a toothpick on occasion isn’t going to make any teeth fall out, but regular use is a bad practice. Flossing carries no risk of splinters and should be your usual choice for cleaning food from between your teeth. If you keep your smile clean the right way, your teeth will thank you in the long run.

About the Practice

DeMartino Dental Group has provided quality dental service to the community of Phillipsburg, NJ for over five decades. Led by Drs. Jeffery R. DeMartino and Nelida Garcia-DeMartino, the staff strives to give the highest quality care with the latest technology. Services include preventive, pediatric, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry. For more information on flossing and other parts of proper oral hygiene, contact the office online or dial (908) 859-5260.